Caribbean News

GUYANA: Emulate the bravery of Rose Hall martyrs -says Minister Norton at memorial ceremony

Published

6 years ago

March 14, 2018

#Guyana, March 14, 2018 – Georgetown – Minister of Social Cohesion, with the responsibility for Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr. George Norton, yesterday, called on Guyanese to emulate the bravery and sacrifice made by the 15 slain Rose Hall Estate Sugar martyrs by standing up against all forms of injustice. The Minister made this call in his address at a memorial ceremony, which was held to mark the 105^th anniversary of their deaths, at the Rose Hall Memorial Site, Canje, Berbice, East Berbice-Corentyne (Region Six).

Minister Norton said that while it is important to remember the courage of these sugar workers, who fought against the cruelty of British colonialism, it is similarly important to build on their legacy of sacrifice so that their loss would not have been in vain. “Not only must we be proud and recognise their contributions to the world we live in today, but we must emulate the bravery of these fallen heroes. As Guyanese, we need to stand firmly to guard against injustices, not just those committed against us and our families, but our friends, neighbours and our country as a whole,” he said.

Regional Executive Officer, Ms. Kim Williams-Stephen expressed similar sentiments. She said that as a nation, Guyanese have much to be grateful for and we can achieve even more if we persevere through challenges, put aside differences and co-operate. “Isn’t it time that we put our energies together to ensure that we have that good life? It is time, as Guyanese people, that we recognise the importance of unity… Each one of us can contribute to the better life of people in Guyana and, by extension, the world at large,” she said.

Minister of Social Cohesion with the responsibility for Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr. George Norton urges the nation to remember and emulate the sacrifices of the slain Rose Hall Sugar Estate workers at a memorial ceremony held this morning.

Meanwhile, in an invited comment, Dr. Fred Sukdeo, who is a descendant of, Nibur, one of the slain sugar workers, said that he was pleased to be included in the observances. “I think it’s important the whole country recognise this particular event because… it is the second major precipitation for the revolution for change in Guyana,” he said.

The ceremony opened with the recitation of prayers from students from the New Amsterdam Multilateral Secondary, the Berbice High and Canje Secondary schools. It also included two cultural items; a ballad, which was sung by representatives of the East Canje Humanitarian Organisation and spoken word item by Founder and President of Guyana Families Unite in Service and Education, Ms. Valini Indira Yacoob. At the close of the ceremony, Minister Norton joined representatives of the Guyana Sugar Corporation, the Department of Education and other officials in the laying of wreaths on the site of the monument.

Director of Culture, Ms. Tamika Boatswain, representatives from the health, education and public security sectors, along with students from the aforementioned schools as well as the Betsy Ground Primary and Rose Hall Estate Primary also attended the ceremony.

On March 13, 1913, the 15 martyrs were shot by colonial police after they protested against having to work on days that they had been granted leave. Fifty-six other sugar workers were injured.

Release: DPI

Caribbean News

CARICOM pushes need for Reparations Tribunal at Forum in Geneva

Published

1 hour ago

April 19, 2024

Shanieka

Rashaed Esson
Staff Writer

Words are in circulation in support for the establishment of an international tribunal, geared towards seeking reparations for centuries long transatlantic slave trade, after a CARICOM official made calls at the third session of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent (PFPAD) in Geneva, Switzerland.

During day two of the gathering held from April 16 to 19, 2024, David Comissiong, Barbados Ambassador to the Caribbean Community, stated there is a need for the tribunal as there is currently no international court to deal with the issues of reparations.

Commision, like the other members that support his view, according to reports, are aware this won’t be an easy feat, as he expressed that establishing the tribunal would require a “positive decision” by the UN General Assembly, further calling on the officials at the Forum and the UN, to come together through international collaboration and “make this happen.”

The idea creation of the tribunal was born last year 2023, suggested by the PFPAD, now reiterated by Comissiong.

Antonio Guterres, the UN Secretary General, in a video, addressing the opening of the forum, supported the ongoing calls for respiratory efforts, a sentiment not shared by many.

Mentioning that racism is still an issue in today’s society, Guterres said, “ now we must build on that momentum, to drive meaningful change by ensuring that people of African descent enjoy the full and equal realization of their human rights; by stepping up efforts to eliminate racism and discrimination, including through reparations.”

Caribbean News

CARICOM sends warning as Oil prices creep higher in the Israel v Iran conflict; 14 regional states import energy

Published

2 hours ago

April 19, 2024

Shanieka

Garfield Ekon
Staff Writer

The recent attack on the Sate of Israel by the Islamic Republic of Iran, has delivered growing uncertainty across the Caribbean region, and the rest of the global economy.

Chief among the many concerns, is the free flow of oil from the Middle East, which stands at 31% of daily production for the global economy. At minimum, shipping costs are likely to increase based on the increased risk of military action in the Persian Gulf.

Pressure is also building on US and European insurance clubs to avoid any transaction, including those with China, that involve Iranian crude and additional rerouting of oil and gas shipments in response to Houthi threats, or Allied responses.

According to the Caribbean Community Council of Foreign and Community Relations (COFCOR), “these developments not only exacerbate the already tense situation but also pose significant threats to regional stability and international peace,” the group warned in a media statement.

It added that the continued cycle of retaliation, including the recent attack on Israel by Hamas, Israel’s “disproportionate response” in Gaza, and the “alarming new dimension of direct confrontations between Israel and Iran, leads to an untenable situation fraught with potential for greater regional conflict and global instability.

“The human toll of this conflict, highlighted by tragic incidents such as deaths and injuries to children, demand an immediate and empathetic response from the global community. It is imperative that there be no further escalation that can lead to more suffering and instability,” it said.

While calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities between Israel and Iran, the regional body underscored that it strongly urges both nations to halt any further military actions that could worsen the situation, endangering not only their own populations but also the broader international community.

“We implore all parties to consider the severe consequences of further conflict and to commit to diplomatic solutions that ensure the safety, sovereignty, and dignity of all people involved,” the CARICOM statement said.

On October 6, 2023, the day before Hamas attacked Israel, the international benchmark Brent crude was trading at $85 per barrel and has been fluctuating at up to $96.

On Thursday, it traded at $91 per barrel. With the exception of gas-rich Trinidad and Tobago, the 14 other countries of CARICOM, are energy importers.

Approximately 93 percent of the region’s energy needs are met by oil imports, which average 13% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Caribbean News

Gov’t Committed to Seeking Reparations for Chattel Slavery – Minister Grange

Published

2 hours ago

April 19, 2024

Shanieka

KINGSTON, April 16 (JIS):

Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Hon. Olivia Grange, says the Jamaican Government remains committed to seeking reparations for the prolonged period of chattel enslavement endured by the African forefathers on the country’s plantations.

Minister Grange said that the historical events of the transatlantic slave trade continue to have a lasting impact on Black communities to this day.

She contended that the ongoing struggles to finance education and healthcare, address poverty and housing issues, respond to economic shocks and climate change impacts, and foster peaceful societies are all rooted in the historical legacy of enslavement.

Minister Grange was addressing a church service on Sunday (April 14) at the Webster Memorial United Church in St. Andrew, where an apology was issued on behalf of the United Reform Church (URC) in the United Kingdom (UK) by Moderator of the Assembly of the URC, Reverend Tessa Henry-Robinson, for the church’s historical involvement in slavery.

“We, the general assembly of the United Reform Church, mindful of our own history and that of our antecedent bodies, wish to confess and apologise for our role in transatlantic slavery and the scars which continue to blight our society, our church and the lives of Black people in our midst and around the globe today,” the apology read.

Minister Grange, in accepting the apology, urged UK churches, particularly those whose representatives were present for the historic apology in Jamaica, to communicate to their government the ethical imperative of admitting culpability through an apology and working with Jamaica to discern the potential avenues for reparations.

She said that the church’s role in the transatlantic slave trade has had significant and enduring effects on Black communities, impacting society, the church itself, and the lives of Black individuals worldwide.

“It is this complicity of the church that gave solace and comfort to the citizens and governments of UK and Europe as they endorsed and defended with their military project, that saw the capture, the torture, the dehumanisation, and devaluation of African people, legacies of which we experience today as racism, white supremacy, and discrimination,” she stated.

“We struggle to build peaceful, stable societies because of the perpetration of violence which was the platform on which enslavement was executed yet, in spite of this, we have been good converts to these same religions. Our people have adopted and adapted the doctrines and rituals of these new religions and in many instances have energised and revitalised them with cultural practices of African spirituality,” the Minister emphasised.

The URC is a community of Christians gathering in local churches across England, Scotland, and Wales, and is part of the global family of Reformed Churches, comprising more than 70 million Christians.

With approximately 42,000 members in around 1,200 congregations, supported by more than 600 ministers, the URC plays a significant role in the spiritual and communal life of its members and the broader community.

CONTACT: BRITNEY STEVENS